Gala Placidia's activity

Questions Asked

Bella Toscana is finally operating. A warm welcome to all those interested in participating in the group.

Thu, 10/27/2011 - 10:40

Testing the group. Can you help by posting something to see whether it is working?

Mon, 10/24/2011 - 10:45

I just heard that the Italian MotoGP pilot Marco Simoncelli has died in a horrific accident at Sepang (Malaysia) during the Grand Prix.

Sun, 10/23/2011 - 08:32

This is "funghi porcini" time and you will find them sold fresh everywhere. A great time to enjoy them. There are many ways to prepare them: sauces, garnishes, omelettes, pasta....

Sat, 10/22/2011 - 14:31

Further to previous posts and threads, I did not get an answer from Admin regarding the current status for "Northern Tuscany" group... Consequently, I decided to do something different and I requested the creation of a new group...

Wed, 10/19/2011 - 11:08

Could anyone explain why it is not possible to access the Northern Tuscany Group? I am supposed to be its Administrator and I have not received any information regarding this.

Tue, 10/18/2011 - 04:54

Buon Ferragosto!

Mon, 08/15/2011 - 03:28

We are just back from a n enjoyable week in Rome and I must mention the great coffee we had at Piazza Sant'Eustachio, a sort of "sanctuary" for all coffee lovers.

Tue, 05/24/2011 - 03:52

We were driving around Lucca when I saw at a newsagent a headline from regional newspaper "Il Tirreno" stating that the Royal couple were coming to Lucca during their honeymoon.

Fri, 04/29/2011 - 12:25

I travel to San Francisco, California, quite frequently as my two daughters live there. I love the city and I have always noticed its strong Italian influence.

Mon, 03/28/2011 - 06:25

Comments posted

Sat, 11/06/2010 - 15:31

A beautiful, inspiring story. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Fri, 11/05/2010 - 06:05

Great blog, Phil. Next time, have the fig paste with Peccorino Toscano. It is also fantastic with quince paste. From time to time, Lidl has a Thai week and you can buy a small amount of ingredients there. Definitely not the same thing as shopping for Oriental spices in the East, or the USA, or Australia. But not bad at all.

Mon, 11/01/2010 - 05:24

A Forum - or community - with 2735 members cannot be dead. There are cycles in every forum. Personally, I have been away travelling for over a month and when I am not home I very rarely check what goes on. Dead? No!!! Asleep? Maybe... Time to wake up!

Answer to: Renovation
Mon, 11/01/2010 - 05:15

This is not an easy question and there is no easy answer. I would say that you need to know what you are doing and you endeavour to keep renovation costs within reasonable limits; otherwise, you end up with a "white elephant". But most important, it also depends on the initial price you pay for the property and how much those renovations increase its price. Good luck with your project!

Answer to: Kitchen worktops
Sun, 10/24/2010 - 15:30

We had a marble benchtop with grooves for drainage into the sink  installed in our new kitchen and I am delighted with it.

Thu, 10/21/2010 - 05:18

Welcome back and good luck with all your projects. We all look forward to hearing from you.

Answer to: Introduction.
Wed, 10/13/2010 - 04:26

Hello and welcome to the Community. Perhaps some of our Abruzzo members will be able to help you with your question. Good luck and best wishes!

Tue, 10/12/2010 - 08:27

Hello neighbours, Lucy and Dennis. You have chosen a beautiful spot to live. We know!!! Regarding residency, as it has been said, with a German passport it is relatively easy to obtain residency in Italy, providing you show that you have property and enough money to survive (it is not a large amount). If you are under the age of 65, you must show proof of private health insurance. Over the age of 65, you must have your German Health Insurance entitlements transferred to Italy, which could be a bit of a complication if you do not reside in Germany. Check with the nearest German Consulate. In Lucy's case, you can obtain residency as a wife of EU citizen. We are in a similar situation, I have Spanish nationality and my husband is Australian; however, you are right about the problems that may arise in the event of the early death of the EU citizen. Generally, authorities will be willing to grant permanent residency to the spouse; however, I think it may be easier if Lucy takes up the German nationality as the spouse of a German national. It would not be necessary to relinquish the US citizenship as I believe that the US accepts nowadays dual nationality without problems. My husband is taking up the Spanish nationality to avoid any future paperwork. I would contact both the Italian and German consulates and check with them. I do not think that Council at Bagni di Lucca will be prepared to handle a similar situation. Best luck with your plans!

Answer to: Hello Everybody
Mon, 09/06/2010 - 11:45

Hello Flip and welcome. Winter in Tuscany depends on the particular area where you will be living and there are lots of microclimates. Altitude also is very relevant. Best wishes regarding your future plans.

Sun, 09/05/2010 - 10:10

It is certainly a huge project, but I am sure that it will be a very rewarding one. The scenery is really superb. Best wishes